Uniform cap



H. LEV

UNIFORM CAP` Jan. 2, 1951 Filed sept. 9, 1947 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIFORM CAP Harry Lev, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 9, 1947, Serial No. 772,979

18 Claims.

This invention relates to a uniform cap having a, frame whereon may be fitted a flexible cover. More particularly the present improvements are concerned with a so-called grommet which is atmospheric air-containing resilient, and adapted to be fitted around inside the covers so as to maintain the same in a distended condition. Such a grommet, according to this invention, is conducive to maintenance of the cover in a smooth, flattened state, and to restoration thereof to circularity whenever it may happen to be displaced therefrom. In this important respect, the present grommet has an enhanced exibility and resiliency. Its application to or removal from the cap cover may be accomplished with a minimum of effort and time. It is possible also to secure the grommet to a stay which upstands from the front of the cap so as to provide a center support at that point.

Certain suggestive embodiments of this inven- -tion are illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a uniform cap equipped with a stay in connection with one form of my cover-distending grommet;

' Fig. 2 is a detail in vertical section, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a suggestive stay together with the holder therefor, the two 'ends of the grommet being shown as connected by a common means to each other and to the stay;

Fig. 4 is a detail in section, taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, which is a fragmentary detail in section, shows the interconnected end portions of a cover-distending grommet embodying the features of this invention, but designed for use independent of any stay;

Fig. 6 is a View in cross section, taken about on line 6 6 of Fig. 2, showing the present grommet in connection with a stay of modified construction; and Y Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional, perspective view of a grommet having a construction some- 'what different than those elsewhere illustrated.

The illustrated cap is conventional in that it comprises an endless frame F made desirably of fibre or the like. This frame which may be fabriccovered, furnishes on its inner face a mounting "for a holder H in the form of a plate which may be transversely bowed and from which tines l are vstruck outwardly to traverse the frame for clinching upon its outer face (see Fig. 2). The -top edge of the holder is positioned about flush with that of the frame. In some such way as this, the holder is secured iixedly to the frame.

A pair of endwise bowed bars H is also struck out to lie spaced from the holder plate to which they remain connected at their opposite ends. These bars which are disposed inwardly of the holder furnish a mounting for the bowed lower end I2 of a stay S in the form of a strap which may be slidably fitted to the inside of the bars against the inner face of the plate to .extend upwardly of the frame. The transverse bowing of the stay graduallly flattens out toward an offset I4 which provides a stop in the form of an approximately horizontal ledge adapted to overlie and rest upon the frame top; and its upper end l5 thereabove is extended both forwardly and upwardly of the frame F. This changing contour of the stay S in its lower end region where it interts with the holder H makes for an increased frictional connection, so that relative motion therebetween is effectively prevented. For longitudinal reenforcement, including the region/of the offset ledge, the stay is provided with one or more ribs f6 preferably embossed lengthwise of the strap except in its lower end region where adequate reenforcement is provided by reason of the transverse bowing of the strap. To reduce weight, I may also provide in the stay an elongated slot Il, as shown. The top end of the stay is formed into a head I8 which may upstand in substantial parallelism with the lower end thereof.

To the inside of the frame may be affixed the usual sweat band 20 which will conceal the presence of the holder plate H. At or near the lower edge of the sweat band a visor 2| is secured, and arranged to fit around the cap frame,

exteriorly thereof, is the band 25 of a cover C whose crown comprises circularly extending sides 26 which at the top. join with the usual tip 21. The crown diameter exceeds that of the band as is common with many uniform caps of the present time.

The construction described up to this point is one which is well known, and has been set forth here in some detail for a better understanding of my present invention which is concerned primarily with a grommet G adapted for insertion within the cover C to maintain the same in a smooth distended condition. In one form of the invention shortly to be explained, the grommet is provided with means specially interconnecting its two ends and the top end of the stay whereby to support the grommet at a xed elevation centrally of the cap front.

As shown clearly in Figs. 3 5, the grommet G is desirably in the general form of a tube made of a resilient material, such as rubber, produced by extrusion or other commercially available process. The cross sectional form of the tubular grommet may be widely varied, but the D-form herein illustrated has proven eminently suitable. The two ends of the grommet are brought together for interconnection as by a plug P having opposite ends contoured for close reception within the adjacent open ends of the tube. One plug end is desirably secured xedly, as by cement c, to the associated end of the tubular grommet so as to remain permanently connected thereto. The exposed other end of the plug may then be frictionally fitted within the opposite end of the tubular grommet to remain assembled therewith during use of the cap. Upon this exposed end (see Fig. 5), I may provide scale marks m, such as 6%, 67/3, 7, etc., to indicate the extent to which this end of the plug should be inserted into the open end of the grommet in order to assure production of a correspondingly sized endless band. If the grommet should prove to be overlong, then a piece may be cut off to reduce it to proper length. The grommet is resilient with capacity to iiex in any direction, atmospheric air-containing and self-sustaining in cross-section. A grommet having these improved features of construction will tend to retain a circular form. Its ability to yield inwardly at any point and then restore itself to circularity again far exceeds that of any grommet with which I amr familiar. This is due in part to the enhanced resiliency of the rubber or rubber-like material employed, tothe tubular form of the grommet itself, and, in the case of the D-form of tube, to the outward disposition of theconvex side of the grommet (see Fig. 3) which receives the maximum compression when deformation takes place.

When the grommet ends are interconnected to provide a circularY structure of the desired size, the grommet is ready for insertion within the cap cover C tov lie therewithin at the juncture of its side 2.8 and tip 2.1. The cover willV then be distended so that its tip willi be held smooth and flat and tend to remain so under all normal c'on'- ditions of use. Should the tipbe pushed in, responsively to an external pressure, the'grommet will yield almost limitlessly,` yet with capacity to spring outwardly again for resumption of its normal circularity onceY this pressure be Withdrawn. The properties of the present grommet are such that it cannot be injured by deformation in any degree, nor can it acquire a set which might impair its resilient circularityat any point. As. previously noted, the tubular form of the 'grommet is, in part, responsible for this superior performance.

The grommetof my invention may, if desired, be connected to a stay S at its upperA end so as to receive therefrom support at a fixed elevation. Certain suggestive means. whereby to interconnect the grommet ends andi also securethe grommet to the stay are shown i'nv Figs. 2 4' andl 6 t'o wlnch reference will now be made.

Thel plug. P as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 is formed with' a central body 3B having oppositely projecting ends 31 and 32v adapted for close' fitting with the open ends of the tubular grommet G, and desirably secured fast to. both grommet endsas by cement c. A neck 35. extending outwardly from. thev plug body 3S is formed integral therewith and carries an elongatedilreadfi? which is integral with the neck and will be referred to herein as a button. The neck is entered through a slot 38 formed in the stay head I8 crosswise thereof, so that the plug body lies to the inner side of the stay S and the head of the button to the outer side thereof and the neck 36 is located within the slot 38 of the stay head I8. The length of this head of the button and also its convex contour is such as tov substantially ll the space between the endsI of tire grommet G at the outer periphery thereof and' provide a' continuous smooth front face therebetween. Obviously in such a construction, the grommet ends are locked together and to the stay in a more or less permanent relation. Separation of the grommet from the stay will require compression of the button to a size small enough to pass through the slot 35S- an operation that is rather diiicult without the aid of a special tool for this purpose.

If it be preferred to secure the grommet to the stay in a manner which permitsV ready separationv therebetween in response to certain requisite manipulations, then the construction suggested in Fig. 6- may be availed of. Here the stay head t8 is provided with an inverted T-slot comprising a crosswise slot 48 communicating with a branch slot 49 which opens out at they top of the stay where it may be given a down foldto provide a rounded top edge 50, all for purposes of reenforcement. A grommet G whose ends are connected by a plug- P as per theI construction of Fig. 4 may be joinedto the stay of Fig.` 6 by sliding the neck 36v endwise through the branch slot 49 into the crosswise slot 48 which liesat the base of the T-,slot, at which point the stay is turned around through or so to align the neck within the crosswise slot 48 where itA engaged by the rounded edge 5.0 and tends to remain without further attention. Itv may be de sirable to so proportion the lengthy of the neck 35 with relation to the turning space at the juncture of the branch slot 49 with thel crosswise slot 48 that some compression of the neck will be requiredin executing its movement. to final position. In some such way as this, the grommet may be separably retained in assembled relation with the stay tobe supported there:-y

by at the cap front. Y

As previously noted, the crossV sectional form of the grommet may be- Variedwidely. I prefer that it be of tubular form both to reduce weight, and to enhance its resiliency. The provision of spaced inner and outer walls, one subjected to compression in a degree greater than the other when deformation from circularity takes place, is found tobe advantageous. Particularly effective is a D-tube whose convex wall is disposed-outwardly, as herein disclosed. As shown` inL Fig. 7, the tube is provided witha plurality of openings 55, spaced by webs 56, in communication withi the atmosphere. A reduction in weight is thereby attainedgjand by judicious selection of the rubberlike material, or composition thereof, for thetubular grommet an adequate strength and resiliency may be assured.

An important featurev of the presentl tubular grommet is that its two:ends, whenspaced apart by an intervening stay, are adaptedf for interconnection by means which may be cross-sectionally contoured to align' with the adjacentgrommet wails so as to'constitut'egi'n effect, a continuation thereof. By such` a construction, I avoid any break in the continuity of the grommet surfaces which exertan outward pressure on the cover, and

flat condition.

claim: K

1. For use with a exible cover having va mounting on a uniform cap provided with an upstanding stay at the front, a tubular grommet of resilient material, the grommet being extended arcuately for nearly a full circle for fitting within the cover adjacent its tip to exert an outward pressure thereon, and means detachably interconnected with the stay and disposed between the twov ends of the grommet for securement thereto.

Y 2. For vuse with a flexible cover having a .mounting on a uniform cap provided at the `front with an upstanding stay through which is an invertedT-slot opening out upon the stay top edge vwhich is folded down upon itself, a grommet of vresilient material extended arcuately for nearly a full circle, and means slidably entered into the stay slot and disposed within the base thereof for engagement by the folded edge of the stay and extending oppositely away toward the grommet ends for securement thereto.

. v3. For use with a exible cover having a mounting on a uniform cap provided at the front ,with an upstanding stay through which is an invertedT-slot opening out upon the stay top edge,

v a grommet of resilient material extended arcuately for nearly a full circle, and means slidably entered into the stay slot and disposed within the base thereof and extending oppositely away toward the grommet ends for securement thereto.

4. For use with a flexible cover having a mounting on a uniform cap, a hollow grommet of resilient material extended arcuately for nearly a full circle for tting around Within the cover adjacent its tip to exert therein an outward pressure tending to maintain the cover tip smooth and flat, and means completing the circle thereof and interconnecting the grommet ends and secured adjustably to atleast one of them and provided between the ends of the grommet with an attachment portion for securement to a grommet support.

5. For use with a flexible cover having a material -having opposite connected ends, the grommet being extended arcuately for nearly a full circle and fitting around within the cover adjacent its tip to exert therein an' outward pressure tending to maintain the cover tip smooth and flat, and means connecting said ends and detachably interlocked with said stay.

6. For use with a flexible cover having a mounting on a uniform cap provided with an upstanding stay at the front, a tubular grommet of resilient material, the grommet being extended arcuately for nearly a full circle and fitting around within the cover adjacent its tip to exert therein an outward pressure tending to maintain the cover tip smooth and flat, said grommet having circumferentially spaced ends, and a plug secured to one end of the grommet and frictio-nally fitted into the other end thereof to establish therebetween an adjustable releasable connection, said plug being detachably connected to the stay at a point between the spaced ends of the grommet.

7. For use with a flexible cover having a mounting on a uniform cap provided with an upstanding stay at the front, a tubular grommet of resilient material, the grommet being extended arcuately for nearly a full circle and fitting around within the cover adjacent its tip to exert therein an outward pressure tending to maintain the cover tip smooth and flat. said grommet having circumferentially spaced open ends', and a plug closely tted within Athe spaced open ends of the grommet and secured kfast to at least one Yof them, said plug being detachably connected to the stay at a point between the spaced ends of the grommet. A n

8. For use with a flexible cover having a mounting on a uniform cap, a grommet of D-form in cross section of resilient material extending arcuately and fitting within the cover at the juncture of the tip thereof and the side of the same to exert therein an outward pressure tending to maintain the cover tip smooth and flat, said grommet having its flat face vertical and located at the inner periphery vof the grommet and lits convex face at the outer periphery of the grommet and maintaining a rounded contour at the edges of the tip of the cap.

9. For use with a flexible cover having a mounting on a uniform cap provided With an upstanding stay at the front, a tubular grommet of D-form in cross section with its relatively flat wall located at the inner periphery of the grommet and its convex wall arranged at the outer periphery of the grommet, the grommet being extended arcuately for nearly a full circle for fitting around within the cover adjacent its tip to exert therein an outward pressure tending to maintain the cover tip smooth and flat, the ends of the grommet being open, and a plug closely fitted within the open ends of the grommet and secured fast to at least one of them, and means for detachably connecting the plug to the stay. Y

l0. For use with a flexible cover having a mounting on a uniform cap, a tubular grommet of resilient material of D-form in cross section extended arcuately for nearly a full circle for tting around within the cover adjacent its tip to exert therein an outward pressure tending to maintain the cover tip smooth and fiat, the convex wall of the grommetbeing imperforate and disposed at the outer peripheryl of the grommet and the relatively flat wall being located at the innerperiphery of the grommet and formed with a plurality of openings separated at intervals by webs and communicating with the interior of the grommet. 1

11. For use with a flexible cover having a mounting on a uniform -cap provided with an upstanding stay at the front, a tubular grommet of resilient material, the grommet being extended arcuately for nearly a full circle for fitting within the cover adjacent its tip to exert an outward pressure therein, the ends of the grommet being open and adjacent each other, and a plug having its opposite ends inserted into the adjacent open ends of the grommet and intermediately of its ends extended laterally from one side of the stay to the opposite side thereof to interlock therewith.

12. For use with a flexible cover having a mounting on a uniform cap provided with an upstanding stay at the front, a tubular grommet of resilient material, the grommet being extended arcuately for nearly a full circle for fitting within the cover adjacent its tip to exert an outward pressure therein, the ends of the grommet being open and adjacent each other, and the grommet wall being relatively flat at the inner periphery of the grommet, and a plug of similar cross sectional form with its opposite ends inserted into the adjacent open ends of the grommet and intermediately of its ends extended laterally from one side of the stay to the opposite side thereof to in, terlock therewith.

13'. For use with a exible cove-r havingv a mounting on a uniform cap provided an upstanding; stay at the iront, av tubular' gromrnet of resilientl materiali, the grommets'v being extended arcuately for nearly a ful-1- circlel for fitting within the cover adjacent its tip to exert an outward pressure therein, the endsof the gro'rnniet being 'open and adi-recent each other and the grommet Wall being relatively flatat the inner periphery of the grommet, and aplug of similar cross sectional ormwith its opposite ends inserted into the' adjacent openends ofthe grommet and` intermediatel'y of its ends` extended' laterally from one side of the stay to the opposite side thereof to interlock therewith, the plug extension` passing V to 'the opposite.V side being contoured into alignment with the adjacent' walls ofthe grommet to constitute, in effect, a; continua-tion thereof.

14; For use with aflexible cover having a mounting ona uniform cap provided at the front with 'an ups-standingstay through which is a slot near the top disposed substantially circumferenvtl'ally withV relation tothe. tip, a tubular g-rommet of resilient material, the grommet being extended arcuatelyfor' nearly a full circle for fitti-ng within the cover adjacent its tip to exert an outward pressure therein, andv means extended through the sta-y slot and disposed between the' grommet endsland connected thereto for detachably securing the' grommet to the stay.

'l5- For use' with a exible cover having a mounting' on a unifcrn'il cap provded'- at the front with an upstand'ing stay through; which is aslot near the top, a' tubular grommet of resilient materi'al', the g-rommet being extended arcuately for nearly a full circle for fitting within the cover adjacentsits tip to exert an outward pressure thereon, said grommet having circumferentially spacedends and means extended through the'stay slot disposed between the grommet ends and connected thereto for securing the grommet tothe stay, thetubular Walls o'f' the gromme't' bei-ng relatively fla-t 'and vertical at the inner periphery of theA grommetand convex 'at thel outerv periphery thereof and' said extended. connecting means being cross-sectionally contoured-for alignment'with the adjacent walls of the grommet to constitute, in effect, a continuation thereof.

161 For use .with a flexible cover having a mounting ona uniform cap provided with.- anl 11p-- standing stay' atthe'front, a tubular gromm'et of resilient material connected with andV supported byr the stay and'V extended arcuately fori nearly" a vfull?ci'rel'ean'dt'ting Withinthe cover adiacenti its tipto exert therein an-out'W-ard pressure terfclingf to maintain the cover tip smooth and flat;l and means completing. the circle of the grommet interconnecting the grommet ends and detachably mterloclied withv and supported by the stay.

17. For use with a uniform cap having a frame and a, cover formed with a band surroundingv the frame and therea'bove a flexible crown comprising circularly extending sides and a tip joined thereto, both of` greater diameter than the band, theY improvement which consists of an endlessVV flexible grommet of atmospheric air-'containing resilient material receivable within the crown adiacent the tip and, when so positioned, being subjected to an endwise compression sufficient to produce a reactive distension of the crown, the crown when so distended' providing a confining support for the grommet and preventing. buckling thereof while permittingl controlled deflection ofl the grommet inwardly towardthe cap center or vertically, either up or down, in response to- .pressure delivered exteriorly to the crown.

18. For use with uniform cap having a frame and a cover formed with a band surrounding the frame and thereabove a flexible crown comprising circularly extending sides and a tip joined' thereto, both of greater diameter than the band, the improvement which' consists of an endless flexible' grommet of air-containingv resilient material open to the atmosphere and receivable Within the crown and, when sof positioned, being subjected to an endwise compression suflicient to produce a reactive distensionof the crown, the crown when so distended provid-ing a, confining support' for the grommet and preventing buckling' thereof while permitting controlled d'eec'tio'n' of the grommet inwardlyV toward the cap center or vertically, either up or down, in response to pressure delivered exteriorly to the-crown,and the grommetbeing constantly self-sustaining' in' cross-s'ectio'n;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: 

